Pride Mates (Jennifer Ashley)

Title: Pride Mates
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Copyright: 2010 (Leisure); 304 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-8439-6005-1
Reissued: 2011 (Berkley)
Series: Shifters Unbound #1
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: To most, they are animals — even in human form. They are to be collared and kept on the fringes of society, scorned because they are feared, hated for their extraordinary powers. And DA Kim Fraser has to go right into the heart of their lair. It’s her job to defend those in need. But there’s absolutely nothing defenseless about Liam Morrissey. His soft Irish lilt and feline grace can’t disguise his sheer strength. Nor can the silver chain at his throat, designed to control the aggression of his kind, completely reassure her that this man has been tamed. Yet when a feral shifter begins to stalk them both, Liam is the only one she trusts with her life.

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book because I’ve read and enjoyed books written under her Ashley Gardner (Captain Lacey Mysteries) and her Allyson James (Stormwalker) pen names.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
I liked the premise of this series. The shifters in this book are out in the open and, because of this, are discriminated against, forced to live in specific areas. They can’t hold high-paying or important jobs, barred access to the latest in technology, and have almost no rights — probably can’t vote, but are still expected to pay taxes. They wear collars that zap them with a bolt of electricity if they become too aggressive, especially if they threaten a human.

I also liked many of the characters. Liam’s brother Sean, their nephew Connor, and their father Dylan. I also liked the Lupine shifters, Glory and Ellison.

There was a lot I liked about Kim. She’s compassionate and she believes that shifters should have equal rights under the law. It drives her crazy that she’s getting resistance from the shifter themselves. Kim’s also pretty gutsy, but not always smart about it. However, it does allow her to keep fear at bay in some tense moments.

I definitely loved Liam. He’s strong and alpha, but not aggressively so — he doesn’t have to do the “I’m alpha, obey me” routine. He loves his family fiercely and he’s funny.

Though this book didn’t completely wow me, I like the writer’s style and I do like the story. I will be reading the next book.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
The premise. It will be interesting to see where the author takes this series.

Favorite Quote:
“What is this ‘top o’ the morning’ crap?”
“It’s how people expect the Irish to talk. That and ‘faith and begorra!’ I’ll throw those in later.”
– Kim, Liam

Started: 20 August 2011
Finished: 24 August 2011

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Tiger Eye (Majorie M. Liu)

Title: Tiger Eye
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Copyright: 2005; 373 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-06-202015-4
Reissued: 2011 (Avon)
Series: Dirk & Steele #1
Sensuality: Warm
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Delilah ‘Dela’ Reese is on vacation in Beijing. A mysterious old woman sells her a puzzle box — and shortly after, Dela is accosted by a strange man who frightens her. It is the same man who was watching the old woman when she sold the box to Dela. Dela manages to get away from him, but the incident has shaken her. In the privacy of her hotel room, she examines the box. Dela has an affinity for metal — it talks to her. Though there only a small amount in the box’s construct, it tells Dela that the box is at least two thousand years old. She manages to open the box and gets the shock of her life when a man bursts into existence from the the light pouring out of the box.

Hari, a shape-shifter, was cursed by an evil man he calls the Magi. To save the life of his sister, Hari promised to be his servant. The Magi killed her anyway, and when Hari tried to take revenge, the Magi placed a curse on him and banished him to the box. Plus, the Magi stole his ability to shift into a tiger. The curse: Hari is immortal and must serve who ever owns the box as long as that person lives. Through the years, Hari’s had many masters who have used and tortured him, but none have broken him. He loathes Dela at first sight because she is yet another master he must obey. However, Dela refuses to command him and goes out of her way to be kind to him, trying to prove that she would never treat him like a slave. Slowly, Hari begins to have hope, though he doesn’t believe there is a way to break the curse and regain his ability to shift.

Shortly after, Dela is attacked. At first, it seems that maybe the man in the market and the attack are connected, but the story the knives used in the attack tells her a different story. Dela is determined figure out why the old woman sold her the box and find out who is targeting her and why.

Comment: I discovered this book when the hidden object/puzzle game was released. I was curious about the game and liked it enough to pick up the book as well as the Dirk & Steele series. Until I read the book, I had no idea how the story ended because the second part of the game hasn’t been released yet! Now that I’ve read it, I really do what to see how the second game plays out, since the author made changes (from the book) when she worked with the developers for the game.

I liked Dela and Hari. They’re both good, decent people. Hari’s been through a lot, but it never destroyed his core ethics. There were a couple of times I agreed with Hari and the others when Dela seemed to be a bit blasé about her safety — but I also agree with her reasoning, that she couldn’t just hide under the bed all the time either.

I really loved this book. One of the things I wanted to learn about was Dirk & Steele itself: how Dela was connected to it, what was its purpose. The game barely touches on it. I also wanted to know more about Roland, too, but like Charlie from “Charlie’s Angels”, he’s only heard from, not seen.

Once Dela and Hari are back in the States, we’re introduced to several members of Dirk & Steele: Artur, Dean, Blue, and Eddie. I loved these guys and I can’t wait to continue with the series.

(Cross-posted, with some modification, from Good Reads)

Started: 3 September 2011
Finished: 4 September 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Visions of Heat (Nalini Singh)

Title: Visions of Heat
Author: Nalini Singh
Copyright: 2007 (Berkley); 332 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-425-21575-3
Series: Psy/Changeling #2
Sensuality: Hot
Genre: Paranormal Romance

From the Back: Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous — aching need. . .exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating, and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. . .

~&~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book for several reasons.  It’s been several years since I read the first book in the series and I’ve been meaning to continue with it.  I made reading this book, plus the next in the series, part of my reading goal for the year (the one I dubbed, “Sweet Sixteen”).  It also met the criteria for a group challenge I was participating in at the time.  Shortly after reading this book, I made it my goal to get caught up with the series by the end of the year.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Even thought it’s been over two years since I read Slave to Sensation, I was able to pick this one up without any problems. Though the plots are similar, I really thought this book flowed better because it wasn’t encumbered with all the world-building and character introductions that the first book had.

Like the first book,  it’s about a female Psy (Faith NightStar) and a dominant male Changeling (Vaughn D’Angelo). Unlike Sascha, Faith is considered a valuable asset to her family and her PsyClan. Faith is a foreseer, and her abilities allow her to make financial forecasts. She’s the best. I liked her more than I did Sascha. I thought she was a stronger person than she gave herself credit for, even when afraid. I also liked her interactions with the NetMind.

I do love feline shape-shifters as a whole, and I liked Vaughn. I liked how he interacted with Faith. He knew she was strong and he challenged her, teased her. I also liked where he lived. The DarkRiver leopards live in some very interesting “homes”.

I’m really looking forward to reading this series.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
I would recommend this book to readers who read the first book and wasn’t sure about reading the next book.  I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone.

Started: 10 May 2011
Finished: 12 May 2011

Rating:

Loved It!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Bleeds
Author: Ilona Andrews
Copyright: 2010 (Ace); 349 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-441-01852-9
Series: Kate Daniels # 4
Genre: Urban Fantasy
**** SPOILERS ****

From the back:  Kate Daniels works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, officially, as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle — especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community. When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar on the border between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years — and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father. This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

**** SPOILERS ****

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I chose this book because it’s my #1 favorite Urban Fantasy series.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
The characters. Kate’s a strong person, but she still can be hurt, both physically and emotionally. Same with Curran — Gordon’s Curran POV for this book illustrated how much Kate means to him.

Some observations/thoughts:

• After reading the prologue, way back before the book came out, I speculated that the reason Curran was a no show was due to loups. It was the first thing that made any sense to me. I never believed for a moment that he’d stand her up on purpose: he won a bet involving food and a scantily clad Kate — he’d been hauling rocks for weeks and he’s had plenty of time to fantasize about the evening. Nothing short of his duty to the Pack and injury/death would keep him from attending.
• Did Mahon have a hand in the two challenges that prevented Curran from going to Savannah? I can’t see him deliberately goading his people into challenging Curran — that would be throwing aways lives, plus one might have gotten REALLY lucky and beat Curran (I know, impossible, but still…). Yet, it seems too coincidental to be a random, unrelated thing.
• Even if Curran had gone to Savannah, some variation of the breakfast table conversation that takes place later in the book would have occurred — and with the same results.
• It’s good to know that I wasn’t wrong about Roland targeting the Pack because they’ve become too powerful. Makes me even more interested to know the details behind why and how Greg gained Friend of the Pack status. Did he know about Curran’s background?
• Aunt B explains it all. Again!! One of my favorite scenes in the book.
• Some interesting new characters: Barabas, Jezebel, and Naeemah. I wonder if we’ll be seeing Naeemah again in future books. And Grendel.
• Still don’t like Saiman. Still don’t trust him.
• Good to see Dali again.
• Great antagonist! And what a hoot. The scene in Kate’s apartment is great. Calling the apartment a hovel! Giving relationship advice. Too funny.
• Looking forward to seeing what happens with Andrea and the Order.

3. Reasons for recommending this book:
There’s a little of everything in it: action (okay, maybe more than a little of this), romance, humor, great characters (as I type this, I can’t help thinking about Peter Falk’s character in The Princess Bride movie — the book gets a number of mentions/references in Magic Bleeds)

Favorite Quote:
“We should clap or something,” Curran said. “She’s trying so hard.”
“Maybe we could scrounge up some panties to throw.”
– Curran, Kate

Rating:

LOVED IT !!

Started: 16 May 2010
Finished: 16 May 2010

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Other books in the Series:

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Slave to Sensation

Author: Nalini Singh
Copyright: 2006 (Berkley); pgs. 334
ISBN: 0-425-21286-6
Series: 1st in the Psy/Changeling series
Sensuality: Hot

Who: Sascha Duncan (Psy) and Lucas Hunter (Changeling)

Sascha Duncan is a Psy who’s talent never manifested itself — or so everyone, including Sascha, thinks — to the level it should have as a cardinal Psy. Psy should not experience feelings, yet Sascha can, and it’s getting harder to keep them hidden. She is assigned to work with the DarkRiver changelings on a housing project. On the surface, it looks to be nothing more than a business arrangement, but things aren’t what they seem.

Lucas Hunter, a panther, is the DarkRiver alpha. He’s investigating the death of a pack mate. Lucas is certain there is a serial killer out there, targeting Changeling females, and that the killer is a Psy. The Psy keep a close hold on their secrets and Lucas needs a way to infiltrate the PsyNet. He believes the best way to do that is to have direct dealings with a Psy. Lucas is intrigued by Sascha, sensing that she isn’t like the rest of her kind, and he comes to trust her enough to confides in her. Sascha is willing to help, but time is running out. A member of the local wolf pack has been abducted and her pack alpha is threatening an all-out attack on the Psy unless Lucas and Sascha can find the culprit. The only way to that could kill Sascha in the process.

I mostly enjoyed this book. The world building, in particular, hooked me and I liked the cast of characters enough that I promptly bought the other books in the series (including a pre-order) before I even finished the first one. However, I did have a few issues with the book.

One thing that bother me was that I felt there were several key incidents that should have been shown, not told. Sascha’s fear of rehabilitation would have had more impact if we’d seen what exactly happens to a Psy — in the Prologue, perhaps — instead of being told what happens. I also never got the feeling that Sascha was in any danger, no matter how many times she told us otherwise. Her mental shields held throughout; she spent much of her time with the Changelings, not the Psy where she’d have to be constantly on guard; and she was able to stall her mother and Enrique rather easily and effectively whenever they demanded information from her. Getting into the mind of the killer — seeing things from his point of view without revealing his identity — would have added a sense of danger if not to Sascha herself, then to show what they were up against.

My other issue, a minor one really, was reconciling Lucas’ past and his present behavior. I wasn’t expecting him to brood darkly throughout, but I thought he’d be a bit more aloof. I thought he’d resist his attraction to Sascha a little longer than he did, given his determination never to mate.

These issues did not change my decision to read the next book in the series. Like I said, the world building is something unique for me, and I am willing to give the series another try.

Started: 16 January 2009
Finished: 24 January 2009

Rating:
TBA